I remember every detail of the end of that service. The final message of the Middle Tennessee Baptist Church ‘Jesus First’ meeting was to be from the late brother Roger Henson. Pastor Hutson called the man of God to John R Rice’s old pulpit and charged the congregation to give their undivided attention to the preacher. Brother Henson made his way to the sacred desk and thanked the church for their hospitality and for the opportunity to preach. He began to ramble a bit and shuffle the well worn pages of that big black King James Bible. After what seemed like a an hour of silence he closed the old book and turned towards brother Hutson and said, “Preacher, I just can’t get that nudge. I don’t know who needs to do something but I’m not supposed to preach.” As he made his way to his seat on the platform Brother Tony bounded toward the pulpit, “Alright let’s all stand. Brother Les is going to play an invitation song and whoever needs to do something needs to go ahead and do it.” The Holy Spirit climbed on my shoulders and said, “IT’S YOU! Stop running. Answer the call.”
I went to pieces. Abby went to the nursery to get Angel. Thoroughly confident and a bit agitated she asked what was wrong. I asked her if she loved me and trusted me. She shook her head unconvincingly and said, “yeah, what is it.” We three went to the front where brother Tony met us. He asked what I needed. I told him I believed the Lord was calling me to preach. He said, “I know it.” He brought me to the pulpit where I announced my calling. Preacher Ken Elkins exclaimed, “It’s about time!”
Life has not been the same since. I’m thankful for the long suffering of the Lord who had begun calling me in December of 1994. I made a career in music knowing all the while I was not fulfilling the perfect will of God for my life. Since November 9, 2008 life has had more difficultly than I can explain. But I would sure rather go through heartache, disappointment, and struggle in the Will of God, than to live with perceived comfort and ease outside of the Will of God. The verse I rehearse for this portion of my journey is this.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV)
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Lord help me live that.
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